international convention.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson yesterday told MPs that an international agreement to protect wetlands and the bird life that lives in them had been formally ratified.

Mr. Hodgson said: "I am pleased to announce that Bermuda has taken a major step forward with an environmental protection initiative which designated seven, internationally important, wetland habitat sites.

"These sites are now formally protected under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat.'' The Ramsar treaty -- named after the Iranian town where it was signed in the 1970s -- called on participating countries, including the UK, to designate and protect internationally important sites.

Mr. Hodgson told the House of Assembly that the Bermuda sites are Spittal Pond, Somerset Long Bay Pond, Warwick Pond, Hungry Bay mangrove swamp, Pembroke Marsh, Paget Marsh and Lovers' Lake Nature Reserve, owned variously by the Bermuda Government, the National Trust and the Audobon Society.

Mr. Hodgson said: "The paperwork was forwarded to the UK Government earlier this year and the formal announcement with respect to Bermuda's seven Ramsar sites was made in May at the seventh meeting of contracting parties.'' Protected: Paget marsh